Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has received a contract from the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to support the installation of the Harvest Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit (HAWK) prototypes on two United States Marine Corps (USMC) KC-130J aircraft.
While USMC KC-130J transport aircraft have already flown the Harvest Hawk weapons kit, which allowed them to employ AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-176 Griffin missiles, and glide bombs, the “Plus” variant that will now be integrated will add a 30mm cannon to the mix.
SNC is getting $1.6 million for the integration effort.
Thanks to multi-sensor imagery and reconnaissance, and precision guided munition delivery via wing and door-mounted launchers, Harvest Hawk enhances the capability of the KC-130J to perform the close air support mission for the Marine Corps. The upgraded version of the system is also expected to introduce improved electronic warfare capabilities.
“We’re pleased to continue to serve NAVAIR and the USMC with modifying these two KC-130J aircraft,” said Mark Williams, Vice President of Business Development for SNC’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Aviation and Security (IAS) business area. This award marks the first competitive win on this contract vehicle for IAS.
IAS is an integrator for special mission aircraft, including major AC-130J modifications, MC-130J RF Counter Measures (RFCM), MC-130J AirBorne Mission Networking (AbMN), KC-130J Harvest Hawk Plus, and other mission system upgrades.
The Harvest Hawk first saw service in the Afghan skies in late 2010. In addition to its standard complement of officer and enlisted crew, the Harvest Hawk equipped KC-130J is manned by two fire control officers to monitor and control the weapons and surveillance systems. The kit consists of a targeting system sensor pod, a quad-launcher capable of carrying four AGM-114P2 Hellfire II anti-tank missiles and a box-launcher with AGM-176 Griffin missiles.
